Meng Tao didn't hesitate.
With an explosive burst of speed, he lunged forward, his battle axe swinging with devastating force.
Yuan barely dodged.
He staggered back, feet scrambling against the cave floor, narrowly avoiding the blade by the smallest margin. The sheer wind pressure from the swing sent a chill down his spine.
Meng Tao laughed. "What's wrong? Your luck won't save you this time!"
Without giving Yuan a chance to breathe, Meng Tao advanced again, swinging his axe with brutal efficiency.
Yuan parried,clumsily.
His sword clashed against the axe, but the impact nearly knocked it out of his hands. He was forced back, his posture breaking. His grip loosened, his stance wavered,it was obvious to everyone watching.
Meng Tao was stronger.
He pressed forward, raining down strike after strike, each swing heavier than the last. Yuan was like a leaf in a storm, constantly retreating, barely holding on.
The crowd murmured, watching in anticipation.
"He's completely outmatched."
"Heh, guess his luck ran out."
"This fight is over. Meng Tao's got this."
Yuan heard every single word.
And deep inside, he smirked.
Perfect.
This was exactly what he wanted them to believe.
Meng Tao's fighting style was predictable,a mix of raw aggression and controlled momentum-based attacks. He moved with confidence, swinging his axe in wide arcs, using its weight to overpower his opponent.
But confidence could be manipulated.
And momentum… could be used against him.
Yuan allowed himself to stumble at the right times, barely dodging, barely blocking, barely holding on. To Meng Tao,and everyone watching,it looked like he was just struggling to stay alive.
But in reality?
He was simply waiting.
Waiting for Meng Tao to make one crucial mistake.
And then it happened.
Meng Tao, eager to finish the fight, saw an opening,or at least, what looked like an opening.
Yuan intentionally misstepped, his balance shifting the wrong way, leaving his side exposed.
Meng Tao grinned victoriously.
"There it is!"
He swung.
But Yuan had already calculated everything.
At the very last second, he shifted his weight, his foot twisting just slightly to change his trajectory.
The axe missed,by mere inches.
For the first time, Meng Tao's rhythm broke.
His momentum carried him forward,too far forward.
And in that moment…
Yuan struck.
His sword, previously clumsy and ineffective, suddenly moved with absolute precision.
A clean, decisive strike landed right against Meng Tao's chest.
A gasp escaped Meng Tao's lips. His body froze.
Then…
He fell.
Silence.
For a few moments, no one spoke.
Then…
The entire cave erupted.
"What the,he actually won?!"
"No way. Meng Tao was in complete control!"
"That was just dumb luck! Meng Tao was about to end it, but he made one mistake—one mistake!"
Meng Tao himself lay on the ground, staring at the ceiling in disbelief.
His mind replayed the moment over and over.
He had seen an opening. He was sure of it.
And yet…
How did he lose?
He clenched his fists. "I had that match…" he muttered.
The blond haired judge chuckled. "Well, a win is a win. Congratulations,Junior Yuan."
Yuan simply nodded, his face remaining calm, as if he himself couldn't believe he won.
But inside?
Inside, he smiled.
And now?
They would remember him not as a warrior, but as someone who had survived by pure chance.
And that… was exactly what he wanted.
But what Yuan could not have known was that one among the disciples had seen through his act. This person realized that everything was not mere luck or coincidence but a carefully orchestrated plan. However, instead of exposing him, they simply watched in stunned silence, confused as to why he was hiding his true abilities. Yet, they chose to remain quiet, merely observing as the semi finals were about to begin.
"So, juniors! In one hour, the semi-finals will commence. I will give the five remaining competitors time to rest and prepare for their next battle!"
With that announcement, the blond haired judge sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and fell into meditation.
But as he grew silent, the disciples around him erupted into conversation, discussing the rising talents who had made it this far in the Howling Wind Branch Sect's selection trials.
First was Alex Icen, an unknown figure before this tournament, but one who had now gained attention for both his sheer power and his exceptional mental endurance from the first trial.
Then there was Scholar Felix, a prodigy from the Scholarly Cultivation Clan, known for their refined combat and vast Scholary knowledge.
Li Chun, from the prestigious Li Noble Family, had also made it through, proving her skill and sharp instincts in her previous fights.
And of course, Krieger, the most talented knight in the kingdom, a Knight whose name had already spread far and wide, even before this tournament.
Finally, there was Yuan,like Alex, another competitor shrouded in mystery. No one knew where he had come from. He wasn't overwhelmingly strong in combat, yet he had displayed an astonishing level of mental endurance, surpassing even some Blood Purification Stage disciples.
The disciples speculated about both Alex and Yuan. Could they be from fallen noble houses? Perhaps from hidden cultivation clans?
The discussions continued, but while the other disciples engaged in their chatter, the five finalists Alex, Felix, Li Chun, Krieger, and Yuan,remained completely silent. Like the blond haired judge, they sat cross legged, meditating, conserving their energy for the upcoming battles.
Yuan did the same, but unlike the others, his focus wasn't on recovering strength.
Instead, he was analyzing the performance he had displayed throughout the tournament.
He had pushed his luck far enough.
Winning once or twice with sheer "luck" was believable. But if he continued winning, if he somehow made it to the finals, his entire facade would fall apart. People would start to see through the act.
And that… was something he absolutely could not allow.
So, he had already made his decision.
He would lose his next fight.
Not in a way that looked deliberate. No, that would be suspicious. He had to lose convincingly,desperately, as if he had given his all and simply wasn't strong enough.
He calculated the level of effort he would need to exert, how many attacks he should land, when to falter, when to struggle, and most importantly… the exact moment when he would "fail" and be eliminated.
Fifth place. That was his goal.
With his thoughts set, Yuan finally shifted his attention to the book they had received after the first trial
Howling Wind Sect's Rules & Introduction
He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning each word with quiet focus.
If he was going to enter the sect, he needed to understand everything about it.
And so, as the other competitors meditated in preparation for battle, Yuan calmly read, absorbing every rule, every structure, and every hidden meaning behind the words written on the page.
The tournament was reaching its climax.
And Yuan was already preparing his next move.
But just as Yuan was in the middle of reading, a loud clap jolted him back to reality, along with the four other semi finalists.
The sound echoed sharply through the cave, breaking the quiet atmosphere of meditation. Naturally, the source of the noise was none other than the blond haired judge, still wearing his ever-present casual smile.
He clapped his hands together once more and then addressed the group.
"So, as you juniors can clearly see, the numbers don't line up perfectly for the semi finals," he said with a light chuckle. "Because of this, we have one extra fight that needs to take place. And since Junior Krieger was granted the privilege of skipping the previous round, I will have him fight first!"
A short pause followed as murmurs rippled through the surrounding disciples.
Then, the judge's green eyes scanned the group before he called out the next competitor.
"The one who will face Junior Krieger in battle is Junior Li Chun!
"Please, the two of you, step forward!"
The two figures stepped forward, standing a few meters apart in the center of the illuminated cavern.
Krieger, the pride of the Royal Family's Knight Order, carried himself with a dignified aura. His posture was upright, his every movement controlled and disciplined. He was the very embodiment of a knight righteous, unwavering, and graceful.
He wore a white and silver robe was pristine. His blonde hair was neatly tied back, revealing sharp piercing blue eyes.
Opposite him stood Li Chun, from the Noble Li Family.
She was dressed in a violet robe embroidered with flower patterns. Her dark brown hair, tied in a high ponytail, swayed slightly as she shifted her weight. Her sharp bright green eyes gleamed with focus, yet within them burned a competitive spirit.
As the two locked eyes, a sense of tension spread through the gathered disciples.
The fight between these two was bound to be one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
The blond haired judge observed both competitors with a satisfied smile before raising his voice.
"Junior Krieger and Junior Li Chun,are you both ready?"
Li Chun spun her spear in her hand once before setting it into position, the twin blades glinting under the cave's luminous stones.
"Of course," she replied, her voice calm but eager.
Krieger merely placed his hand on his sword hilt, bowing slightly as a knight should.
"I am ready," he answered, his tone formal and composed.
The judge nodded.
"Then,begin!"
The moment the command was given, Li Chun took the initiative.
She lunged forward, twirling her spear in a swift arc, her twin blades slicing through the air like fangs of a serpent.
Krieger didn't back away. Instead, he sidestepped lightly, allowing the spear to brush past him by a mere inch before retaliating with a precise slash aimed at Li Chun's wrist,a clean counter meant to disarm rather than harm.
But Li Chun reacted swiftly, rotating her spear's shaft to deflect the blade.
Clang!
A burst of sparks scattered as steel met steel.
Instead of falling back, Li Chun pressed forward, launching a flurry of spear thrusts, each faster than the last. Her movements were sharp, decisive,every strike aimed at forcing Krieger to retreat.
But Krieger stood firm.
With practiced ease, he parried each attack with minimal movement, his sword never straying from its path, as though he had long predicted her every action.
To the spectators, it was an elegant dance of offense and defense.
Li Chun's spear strikes were swift, aiming to disrupt Krieger's stance, yet Krieger never overextended, his swordplay methodical, every counter measured.
Despite her aggression, Li Chun could not break past his defenses.
After several exchanges, Li Chun's expression darkened.
Her movements were fast, precise,yet no matter what angle she attacked from, Krieger always blocked her at the last moment.
It felt as though he wasn't even trying.
Like he was merely humoring her.
Her spear twirled once more before she leaped back, increasing the distance.
She eyed Krieger, her golden eyes narrowing as she clenched her weapon.
"You…" she exhaled, irritation seeping into her voice. "Are you still holding back?"
Krieger blinked, his piercing blue eyes calm as ever.
"No," he replied simply.
"Don't lie to me," she snapped. "I saw how you fough with Savage,you're not fighting me seriously."
The surrounding disciples exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement.
Krieger was clearly restraining himself.
His posture was too relaxed. His footwork too effortless. His counters too perfect.
Li Chun took a deep breath.
"Are you mocking me?"
Krieger's eyes widened slightly at the accusation, but his expression quickly returned to its usual calm.
"I would never disrespect a fellow warrior," he said, bowing slightly in apology. "Forgive me, fellow disciple Li Chun."
Then, for the first time since the battle began
Krieger changed his stance.
He raised his sword slightly higher, his grip tightening, and his expression grew serious.
"You are correct," he admitted. "I have not been using my full strength. That was unfair of me. Allow me to correct this mistake."
The moment those words left his lips
A faint white glow began to form around Krieger's blade.
At first, it was subtle, like mist clinging to the wooden sword.
Then
The glow intensified, turning into a pure white aura that coated the sword's entire length.
The temperature in the cavern seemed to shift.
A cold, sharp presence radiated from Krieger's weapon,an aura that sent chills through everyone watching.
Li Chun, who had been prepared to launch another attack, froze as she stared at the white glow surrounding Krieger's sword.
She saw that power before.
And she knew she stood no chance against it.
Still, she refused to back down.
Her spear tightened in her grip.
Then, she lunged,one final, desperate attack.
But
Krrrck!
The moment her spear clashed against Krieger's blade, the white aura overpowered it instantly.
Her weapon shattered,its once sturdy wood reduced to fragments that scattered across the ground.
The sheer force behind Krieger's strike sent Li Chun tumbling backward, landing roughly on her back.
A stunned silence followed.
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
The only sound was the soft clinking of broken spear fragments hitting the stone floor.
Then
The blond haired judge let out a deep breath and smiled.
"Winner,Junior Krieger!"
Li Chun, still sitting on the ground, let out a bitter laugh before shaking her head.
"I see now…" she murmured. "There was no way I could have won."
Krieger extended a hand toward her.
"You fought well, fellow disciple Li Chun," he said, his voice as polite as ever.
After a moment of hesitation, she took his hand, allowing herself to be pulled up.
The match had ended.
And Krieger had cemented himself as the most terrifying talent in the tournament.